Locomotive journal box



May 17, 1932.

A. F. PHELPS LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL Box Filed April 28, 1951 l, gnam/$03, Wd@ J,

dbtomuuj Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES gPA'IENT OFFICE f ARTHUR FRED PHELPS, oF :BLUEFIRLn WEST VIRGINIA, AssIGNoR To WEST VIRGINI ARMATURE co., on BLUEFIELD, WEST VIRGINIA i IocoivIoTIvE JOURNAL Box Application filed April 28,

The present invention relates to journal bearings for axles of car wheels and consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claims.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a journal bearing especially adapted for axles of locomotive car Wheels of the type em- .ployed in working mines, which is flexible J and will yield when put to extreme usage as when the locomotive becomes derailed through uneven or spread tracks,or from other cause. And in these emergencies the parts of the bearing will be automatically restoi'ed to their original or normal positions.

Summarily stated, the improved journal bearing is characterized in having an upper fixed and a lower yieldable bearing block member engaging the car wheel axle and nor- 29 mally held in bearing engagement through resilient means permitting separation of the bearing parts a sufficient distance to allow for undue stress to which the axle is subjected `and which bearing parts will be automatically restored after rsaid strains are relieved. The journal bearing is further designed with regard to simplicity of construction and ruggedness to the end of withstanding all ordinary kinds of mining use or abuse, and which will stand up or give effective service until completely worn out. The purpose is to provide a yielding, strain-resisting, flexible, and unbreakable journal box. rlhe construction disclosed herein shows one adaptation of the underlying principle of the invention and further modifications or adaptations thereof are disclosed in my four (4;) co-pending applications for U. S. Letters ,Patent on Locomotive journal boxes, exe- 4'0 cuted and filed of even date, to wit: Serial Nos. 533,533; 533,534; 533,535 and 533,536.

Outside frame carriages for mining cars do not require flexibility of construction to `,prevent breakage in their journal boxes or 5 yielding in the lower halves thereof, because,

being' located at the ends of the axle and outside the track gauge, the degree of angular displacement is so slight under any circumstances compared with the vertical stroke of 0' the journal box in its guides that there is 1931. semi Nb. 533,532.

little or no likelihood of any breakage occurring. Furthermore, outside frame journal boxes are commonly solid lcastings andbecome rarely broken, while inside frame journal boxes-as herein shown-must be of split or divided type for the purpose of readily assembling on the axles between the driving wheels. ation in height between the two boxes on the same axle is very short, and, since the normal movements of the journal box in its guides is vertical and never angular or rotary, beyond very slight limits, this variation sometimes reaches a great angle and tends to spread the top and bottom halves f apart, throwing great strain on the clamped halves of the box, which'are commonly heldtogether by machine bolts, screws, or lock-pins. Frequently through such stresses the bolts become broken, pins are sheard, or the box is strained completely out lof shape. The invention disclosed herein proposes to Overcome these disadvantages and to supply a wide felt need for a journal box for inside frame locomotives which willy be proofv against these injuries.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in` the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a central sectional view, partly in elevation, of the locomotive journal box.

Figure 2 a top plan View thereof.

Figure 3 an end elevational view.

Figure 4 an end elevation of the lower or movable bearing block, and;

Figure 5 a top plan view thereof.

Referring to theconstruction in further detail and wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the different figures the journal box comprises a suitable frame or supporting structure 6 having side portions 7 for mounting in the Wheel truck orV carriage of the car and is designed to receive the usual upper fixed and lower movable axlelbearing blocks 8 and 9 respectively, as shown. Y

The lower bearing block 9 is designed to have free vertical movement within the space of the support or frame 6, and is also adapted to have restrictedangular. or rotary-like In this position the radius of variside walls or portions of the frame 6 as shown. I Y

Said bolts 10 are adapted to be conveniently inserted into positionbefore placement of the bearing block 9 and as conveniently re-1 moved from positionvwhen said bearing block has been withdrawn, as will be understood. Said'bolts freely pass through apertures 13 formed in the projecting side portions 1li4 of the vblock 9, and the dimensions of which side portions permit free up and down movements and limited lateral or rotary-like movements of` the block within the spaces 15 formed `in the opposite sides of the frame structure ,6. v Y y The resilient sustaining means for the lowsame in the support, and springs mounting the lower block on said bolts, said springs operable to permit of limited angular movements of the lower block in the support and restoring to normal position thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ARTHUR F. PHELPS.

' soy er journal bearing consists of a spring member 16 mounted on each of the bolts within` the chamber 17 thereof, and at its upper end the spring engages the under or shoulder portion 18 of the apertured side member 1/1. A nut'19 screwed on the threaded end 20 of the bolt bears directly against the lower end of the spring 16 and serves for regulating the tension thereof. And in the lateral, angular, or rotary-like movements of the bearing block 9 suitable clearance or space 2'1 is formed atY the upper end thereof, or at the locations of the elbows 22 on the bolt members 10.

It will be understood the journal box herein disclosed is provided with all other essential devices for mounting the same in position on the truck, carriage, or corresponding portion of thelocomotive, and is like-y wise equipped with suitable means, (e. spring 23) for supplying lubricant to the axle' ybearing blocks 8 and 9, and with the details of which construction the present invention f is not concerned. l

It will be further understoody that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts with.- out departing from thegspirit of ,my invenff' tion; and therefore I .do'not wish to be limas(Y required by ited to suchfeatures except the claim.

Vhat is claimed as new is: j i A journal box for railway car axles comf prising a suitable support having guidewa'ys7 an upper axle bearing block Xedly mounted therein, a lower axle bearing block movably mounted in said guideways, bolts passing freely through said lower bearing block and having angular portions mounting thev 

